Bay City native hosts acting workshop at Delta College Planetarium

View full sizeIndependent film actor, Matt Socia (right, wearing black) teaches an acting workshop at the Delta College Planetarium during the Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival Saturday morning.

BAY CITY — With his hometown screening a new movie starring him, actor and writer Matt Socia met with others bitten by the acting bug Saturday morning, passing on the knowledge of his experience to help them better hone their craft.

Socia, 41 — a 1987 graduate of All Saints Central High School who now lives in Dallas, Texas — hosted an acting workshop at the Delta College Planetarium. He will conduct a second session at the site on at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Socia stars in the science-fiction film “Earthling,” shown Saturday afternoon at the Masonic Temple as part of Bay City’s fifth annual Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival. He previously co-wrote and starred in “Greener,” filmed in Bay City in 2001 and screened at the first Hell’s Half Mile Festival in 2006.

“The movie industry is booming in Michigan,” Socia said. “Now there is the opportunity I never had as a kid growing up wanting to be an actor.”

In addition to giving acting tips, Socia also intended to shed light on different aspects of the film industry, such as how to compose a proper resume and how to go about auditioning.

During the workshop, Socia and his class of five participated in a variety of activities, beginning with listening and memorization exercises and progressing into cold readings and acting scenes.

“We act in every day life all the time,” Socia said to his class. “We are always on stage doing something.”

He stressed the importance of immersing themselves in a role as early as the audition. “When you get a script, you have to buy into that reality at that moment in time,” he said.

Socia said there were several things he wanted attendees to glean from the workshop.

“I hope they take away that A, they can do it; B, they can get in front of these people (film makers, casting directors, etc.); and C, that the industry is fun,” Socia said. “It’s hard work, you have to take it seriously, but anything is possible. Don’t limit yourself.”

Schedule of events

The fifth annual Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival continues today and Sunday in Bay City. The following is a schedule of events. For more information, visit www.baycityhhmfest.com.